Integral resilient cleansing member



J CANNONITO INTEGRAL RESILIENT CLEANSING MEMBER Original Filed Nov. 1, 1933 Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNITED STATES INTEGRAL RESILIENT CLEANSING MEMBER John Cannonito, New York, N.

Application November 1, 1933, Serial No. 696,139 Renewed March 25, 1936 9 Claims.

' This invention relates to an integral, resilient holding member and a metal wad of abrasive material for cleansing utensils, and to a method of making said member and joining the same to a metal wad.

More particularly, this invention relates to the method of forming a unitary product comprising a flexible holding member and a wad of steel wool, and to the method of joining said wad and flexible holding member together.

In many of the presently used 'types of wire wool holders, for cleaning cooking utensils and the like, their shape and manner of holding the wool prevent proper cleaning of corners and bends of the utensils. The wads of wire wool are not firmly engaged to the holder and after a relatively short time the wad becomes loosened and subsequently falls off the holder. Also, little protection, because of the shape of the holder, is afforded the users hands, against any possible scratches and scrapes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of forming an eificient, compact and relatively strong metal cleanser for cooking and like utensils.

Another object of this invention is to provide an integral, resilient, molded product of substantially hemispherical shape, whose exterior has a wad of wire wool of substantially uniform texture.

One further object of this invention is to provide a holder for wire wool having a handle whereby the hands of the user are protected from injury when cleaning such utensils.

' According to the present invention hereinafter described in detail, a holder is made of rubber or like resilient material which enmeshes part of the strands of a wad of wire wool. The strands being interwoven, form air spaces which are either partly or wholly filled by latex, rubber or other resilient material while in a plastic condition, and.

then molded either during the filling of the air spaces or thereafter, whereby a compact product is obtained, having a wad of firmly imbedded wire wool whose exterior surface is free from frictional contact with the surfaces of utensils and the like.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing; in which a wool, preferably of steel. Said wool wad is placed into position in the hemisphere to conform with,

the outline of said hemisphere, and is of suificlent j thickness to form an outer abrading layer of desired thickness. The layer l4 of the wad adjacent the hemispherical wall of the mold is more compact than the superimposed layer l5 which contains a greater number of air spaces. Said wad I3 is placed in the hemisphere with its edge short of the edge of the hemisphere of the mold section, for reasons hereinafter given.

The upper section ll of the mold is provided with a plurality of ports I6 and I1, respectively, which lead directly into the hemisphere l2. Ports I6 and I! each have a branch conduit I8 and [9, respectively, leading toward the lower part of the hemisphere. Upper section I l is also provided with a plurality of central ports 20 which are in connection with a recess 2| in said mold section. Said recess extends across and above the interior of the hemisphere ,l 2 at an angle to its periphery.

As seen in Fig. l, the cross-section of the recess 2| is expanded at the port 22 in connection with the central ports 29, and gradually tapers at port 23 adjacent the interior of the hemisphere I2 in the lower mold section l0. Said ports are provided for the passage therethrough of moldable material; such as, latex and rubber, into the hemisphere l2 and recess 2|.

The lower mold section II] is provided with a plurality of pins 24 which fit into openings 25 of the upper section for permitting proper engagement of the sections during the molding operation. Upper mold section II may be in several disconnectible parts to permit easier removal of the product formed in the mold. It will be noted that when the mold sections are united, the hollow portions comprise hemisphere l2 and recess 2|.

In the process, of making a molded product, the sections are joined, as shown in Fig. 1, and

latex or other moldable resilient material is forced through ports I6, I! and 20. The flow ofthe material into the ports is controlled to prevent complete seepage through the entire depth of the wad [3. The lower mold section l0 may be heated while the material is forced through the ports, so that as the material fills the air spaces of the upper portion M of the wad, it is molded and embeds the strands of the wad. The material in passing through the ports fills the interior of the hemisphere and extends over the edge of the wad, and also fills the recess 2|.

When the hollow hemisphere and the recess 2| are substantially filled, the molding operation is completed. The mold sections are dismade of resilient material, shape with the hollow hemisphere I2 and recess 21. An integral circumferential ledge 21 is on the edge of the hemispherical portion of holder 26 and extends therefrom covering the free circumferential edge of wad l3. Integral with the resilient holder is ahandle 28 projecting upwardly from the interior of the'holder and connected with the inner marginal edge '29 of said holder. Intermediate the sides of the handle 28 and the inner wall of the holder 26 are spaces to permit insertion and resting ofthe finger tips therein when the product is used.

In the foregoing describedmethod it will be noted that a hollow hemispherical shaped holder isobtained in which are partly imbedded the strands of a wad'of wire wool, also the wad is on the exterior of the holder, said holder having a circumferential ledge covering the free edge of the wad, the ledge affording'protection to the users hands and fingers against injury.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, there is provided an integral holder 26 in which wad I3 is partly embedded and reinforced in engagement by means of anchoring means 30, such as a steel or wire thread. The thread may be passed through'the' wad and the wall of the holder as shown in the drawing. This assures longer life to the wad.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5,

' there are a plurality of pairs of slotted openings 3| and 32, in the holder, whose longitudinal axes intersect at right angles. One pair 32 of openings extend upwardly into handle 28, while the other pair 31 extend partly into the hemispherical wall of the holder. These openings are filledwith part of the wire wool of the wad so as to connect the wad more firmly with the wall of the holder.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be noted that Ihave provided a method of forming an integral holder made of resilient material and of joining a wad of wire wool with said material. According to this method above described, the resilient material may be latex which is molded in the molding device or rubber while in a plastic state. Air may be blown into the rubber so as to give the product a spongy looking appearance. Said moldable material is passed through the spaces of interwoven or mixed strands of a wad of wire wool to form a unitary product in which the wire wool is firmly embedded.

The product is of hemispherical shape and has an outwardly extending circumferential ledge to prevent the strands of the wire wool from coming in contact with the hands and fingers of the user of such product. 'Iheshape of the product affords an efficient means of cleaning out corners and rounded sections of utensils and is an important feature of the present invention.

The term moldable material includes such materials which may be vulcanized such as latex, rubber and the like. Wire wool may include any metal wool, such as steel and copper wiring forming wool.

While a preferred method and certain specific embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made as to form, use and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims;

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a resilient holder of hollow hemispherical shape, having a handle extending across the interior of the hemisphere, forming grooves between the inner wall ofthe hemisphere and the sides of the handle, and a wad of abrasive material partly imbedded in the exterior surface of said holder. I e 2. article of manufacture, comprising a resilient holder of hemispherical shape, a peripheral ledge extending 'fitmthe" edge of said hernisphere, a cross member extending across the interior of said hemisphere forming grooves between the' cross member and the inner wall of said hemisphere, and'a mass of metallicabrasive material on the exterior o f's ai'd holder. v

3. An article of manufacture, comprising aresilient, substantially hollbvfihemispherical holder having a peripheral le'dgesu ro undingthe enter marginal edge of said ho ldr; apro jecting ber extending across the interior olfsaid helder forming grooves between the inner wal l of the member, having a'peripherally extending ledge,

a member projecting from the interior of said holding member forming grooves between the inner wall of the holdingv member and the projec'tfing member, said hemispherical member having a plurality'of intersecting slotted openings, and a metal wad conforming with the shape of said hemispherical member and contained by said slotted openings.

5 An article ofmanufacture comprising a hollow resilient member of hemispherical shape, hav: ing a peripherally extending ledge, a cross member in connection with the interior wall of said resilient 'merriber forming grooves between the wall of the resilient member and the extending memberfand a wad of metal wool partly im-, Ilgeddedin the exterior wall of the resilient mem 7 6. As an article ofmanufacture, a resilient member of hemispherical outline, a projecting member integral with the interior of theresilient member forming a groove on each side of the projecting member. with respect to the inner wall of the. resilient member, and a wad of metal wool in connection with the-resilient member having an outline conforming with said resilient member.- i

7. An article of manufacture, comprising a hemispherical member having-an upwardly pro jecting membergan'd anextension integral therewith, said projeoting'member being connected at opposite ends with the inner wall of said member,

forming spaces intermediate said handle and the inner wall of the hemispherical member, and a wad of wire wool in connection with the outer face of the hemispherical member.

8. An article of manufacture comprising a resilient holding member having a hemispherical outline with a radially extending flange, a member projecting from the interior of said holding member forming grooves between the inner wall ber, a metal wad abutting the outer face of the hemispherical member and means for keeping the wad against said outline.

9. An article of manufacture for holding a mass of metallic abrasive material on the surface thereof, comprising a resilient holder for said material, of hollow hemispherical shape having a handle extending across the interior of the hemisphere and forming grooves between the inner wall of the hemisphere and the sides of the handle.

JOHN CANNONITO. 

